"Half the World" May Be Wrong

Clay Shirky, an Internet industry
pundit, has an interesting look at the popular phrase, "Half the world has
never made a phone call." The phrase has been quoted ad nauseam in recent
years by all manner of professionals, from journalists to some of the most
well known faces in politics, especially when discussing or postulating the
digital
divide. Skirky's claim: the phrase "Half the world has never made a
phone call" -- and various derivatives -- is less fact than factoid, an
urban legend which has reached astounding proportions.

Shirky makes some very good points, includes all manner of interesting
trivia, and references many excellent sources, proving he has done quite a
bit of research. However, he never actually gets around to proving that the
statement is indeed an urban legend -- at least not to my satisfaction.
Though I do not doubt him, it would be nice to prove the central tenet of
his thesis before moving on to explain that it doesn't really matter
anyway. I mean, which is it: it isn't true or it doesn't matter?

Nevertheless, as I said, I don't doubt that the phrase is an urban legend
as it has all the telltale signs of one: 1) the phrase is vague and lacks
details or qualifications; 2) the phrase has morphed into several different
forms; 3) it makes for good story telling (or in this case, a good
argument); and 4) it always goes unattributed. These are all qualities for
interesting and provocative urban legends, but it doesn't make them any more
real.

What is truly fascinating is that many of this nations most powerful people,
having read or heard this phrase in some form or another, have started
repeating it. Though this really amounts to no more than human nature, it
is a bit disturbing to know that public legislation, not just public
opinion, can be swayed by what is really nothing more than a good yarn.